SPAOH: A 25-year-old man perished in his friend’s house near Kampung Hulu Spaoh here when it caught fire late Sunday afternoon. According to Betong Fire and Rescue Operations Officer (BBP) PBK I Henry Jugah, the 4.30pm incident involved a government project house under the Housing Scheme For The Poor (PPRT) “When firefighters arrived at the scene, 90 per cent of the house structures were already razed.
“It was most unfortunate that a man known as Saiful Johari who was a labourer and believed to be a friend of the house owner’s son was sleeping in the house when it caught fire,” he said, adding that Saiful was said to have fallen asleep in the house after cutting grass.
He said when the fire occurred the house owner Majenah and his two children (Mohd Shahrulnizam Suzaini, 13 and Mohd Zaqrulnizam Suzaini, 11) were not at home. The fire was successfully extinguished by a team led by PB Mohd Johari in a fire engine. Henry also confirmed that the house was completely razed and the cause of fire was being probed.
Meanwhile, Betong District Pol ice Chief (DGD) Deput y Superintendent Fahdil Antum Abdullah confirmed that Saiful’s charred remains had been taken to Betong Hospital for a post mortem.
